Type-setting machine



Q No. 749,773. PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

P. B. CONVERSE, JR. TYPE SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 1903. N0 MODEL.

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No. 749,773. PATENTQED JAN. 19, 1904.

F. B. CONVERSE, JR.

TYPE SETTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIGN FILED FEB. 27, .1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' dVf' 92 Witn 6666 5 1216 nfofi UNITED STATES Patented January 19,1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS B. CONVERSE, JR., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONVERSEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TYPE-SETTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,773, dated January19, 1904.

Application filed February 27, 1903. Serial No. 145,300. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANcIs B. CONVERSE, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Type-Setting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a type-setting machine of the generalcharacter set out in my prior patents, numbered 601,706 and 717,171,granted to me April 5, 1898, and December 30, 1902, respectively, theobject being to simplify the construction there shown, rendering itcheaper to make and more efiicient in service.

In each of the patents mentioned there is shown a type-setting machinecomprising vertical type-cases having a plurality of channels, series oftoothed ejectors, one for each channel, a pair of toothed rollersbetween which the ejectors lie, and mechanism operated by thefinger-keys for causing the corresponding ejector to move to cause itsteeth to engage the teeth of one of the rollers, whereby the ejector isfed forward, the ejector automatically moving into engagement with theother roller and being returned at the end of its forward movement. Sucha structure,broadly,is shown in the embodiment of the invention hereinillustrated. The particular improvements which constitute this inventionrelate to the mechanism for moving the ejector into engagement with therotating roller and mechanism for unlocking any engaged ejector when thesame becomes blocked by absence of type in the channel. These featureswill be hereinafter described, and definitely set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa vertical section through the type settingmachine at the ejector mechanism and at the keyboard. Fig. 2 is anenlarged vertical section of the ejector mechanism near the two toothedrollers. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the ejecting mechanismsubstantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the ejector portion of the machine, andFig. 5 is a plan view of such portion.

Referring to the parts by letters, A A represent suitableframe-standards, on the upper ends of which the horizontal frame A ismounted. Resting on the forward end of this frame and extending upwardtherefrom are the type case or cases B, covered bya plate 6 and dividedinto a plurality of channels 6. The type (designated by 6 are surmountedby followers I). Extending downward from the front edge of the frame Ais the race-plate C, carrying a ledge 0, around which the type ejectedforward from thetype-cases are adapted to swing, whereupon they passfoot downward into the race-plate.

J ournaled in a pair of brackets a, carried by the frame A, are twotoothed rollers D and E. These rollers are geared to rotate in the samedirectionz'. 6., their proximate surfaces in opposite directionby thegears d and e on said rollers, respectively. These gears are connectedtogether by the idle gear F. In the machine shown the rollers arerotated by a pulley on the shaft of the roller E and frictionallyclamped thereto by a spring g, bearing on washers g and clamped by nuts9 Between the rollers D and E are a series of ejectorbars J, one foreach type-channel. These ejectors are guided in suitable frame membersand have at their forward ends reduced portions j, adapted to extend inthe typecases. Adjacent to the rollers D and E these ejectors have ontheir upper and lower edges teeth 1" and At the rear end of the teeth jis a notch f and at the front of the teeth j is a notch 1'. Now if anejector is raised the teeth come into engagement with the teeth of theroller D, and the ejector is advanced, ejecting the lowest type in thetype-case until the notch relieves the engagement, when the ejectordrops, bringing the teeth 1' into engagement with the roller E, whichretracts the ejector until this engagement is released by the notchcoming over the roller E.

The mechanism so far described is itself old,

is a feature of this invention and will now be described.

Mounted in the keyboard-box K carried by the frame-standards A areseries of key-levers L, pivoted on the box K and adapted to beindividually depressed by finger-keys N. Stems of these keys fork overthe key-levers, which are flat bars on edge and are held thereto by pinsn through the key-stems. Slidably guided in the frame members is justabove the rear ends of the key-levers L are a series of flat rods P, onefor each key-lever and for each ejector. At its upper end each rod Ptakes through and is guided by a slot 7' in a framebar carried by thebrackets a and preferably composed of a notched member R and a bar 7'.Secured to the under side of the bar R are a series of springs S,bearing on the front side of the raising-bars P, giving them a slightpressure rearward. Near the upper end of the bars P on their rear sideare notches 19. These notches in their normal position of the parts, asshown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2, are idle, and the rear edgeof the bars P rests against the rear wall of the slot 4". Now when afinger-key N is depressed the corresponding rod P is elevated, and theupper edge of the notch 12 becomes flush with the top of the bar 7",whereupon the spring S forces the bar P slightly rearward suflioientlyto cause it to hook over and hang on said framebar 7'. This elevation ofthe frame-bar raises the ejector J above it into engagement with thetoothed wheel D, which at once feeds forward the ejector. Thisengagement continues notwithstanding the pressure is removed from thefinger-key by reason of the raising-bar P having hooked over theframe-bar r until at the extreme forward position of the ejector J theshoulder constituting the rear wall of the notch J impinges the rearside of the bar P, forcing it forward against the light spring S. At thesame time the notch comes under the roller D and releases the ejector,whereupon both the ejector and the bar P fall by gravity, the pressureof the spring S not being heavy enough to support the bar P. The bar Pbeing comparatively long, its angular movement is so very slight thatthe guide It may make substantially a tight fit without binding the barP. This makes a very simple and effective means for causing theengagement of the ejector and enables the touch on the finger-keys to bevery light and very quick. As soon as the key is depressed the operationbecomes automatic, and the finger may be removed from the key as quicklyas it is possible for the operator to do it, the speed of the operationbeing limited only by the operators manual dexterity. Dotted lines inFig. 2

show the engaged position of the ejector and bar P, and the dotted linesin Fig. 1 show the corresponding position of the key-lever.

Surmounting the type 6 within the channels of the type-keys arefollowers 6 When the type are exhausted, these followers block theadvancement of the corresponding ejectors. This blocking stops thesetting action, the pulley Gr slipping by reason of its frictionalengagement with the roller E. To release the ejector raised and lockedby these circumstances, I provide the frame consisting of a rod T,extending across the ejector and carried by arms t from a rock-shaft T,journaled in the frame-standards a. The weight of this frame if releasedis suflicient to depress and unlock any engaged ejectors. The frame isnormally held elevated and out of action, however, by the engagement ofa lever U with an arm 6, extending from the shaft T,.the lever U beingnormally elevated by the spring V. This much of the releasing device isshown in my prior patent, No. 717,171, referred to. The lever U issecured to a rockshaft Z, which extends across the frame and has securedto its front side a plate .2, at the upper end of which is a rib .2,which stands opposite the notch p in the depressed position of the barsP. When any ejector is blocked by the exhaustion of a type-channel, thelever U is simply drawn downward by the operator, and this turns the barZ and swings forward the plate 2, andthe rib 2' engages and forcesforward any bar P which is elevated, the rib having no effect on thebars which are not elevated. This will be seen from the two positions ofthe bars P illustrated in dotted lines and full lines in Fig. 2. As soonas the elevated bars P are released the descent of the frame T on theblocked ejectors releases them from engagement with the roller D.

It will be seen that the improvement herein set out does away entirelywith the bell-crank fingers between the rods from the key-levers and theejectors, as shown in my above-mentioned patents. This simplifies theconstruction and renders it more eflicient.

I claim 1. In a type-setting machine, the combination of an ejector,mechanism for driving the same forward, a longitudinally-movable baradapted to engage said ejector and raise it into engagement with saidmechanism and hold it in engagement throughout the forward stroke of theejector, and a member by which said bar may be held in such raisedposition, substantially as described.

2. In a type-setting machine, in combination, an ejector, drivingmechanism therefor, a bar adapted to raise said ejector into engagementwith said mechanism, and hold it in engagement throughout the forwardstroke of the ejector, a shoulder on said bar, a member over which saidshoulder may hook when the bar is raised, and a spring tending to causeengagement between said bar and said member, substantially as described.

3. In a type-setting machine, an ejector, mechanism above the ejectorfor driving it forward, a bar adapted to raise said ejector intoengagement with said mechanism, there being a shoulder on-said bar,means with which said shoulder may engage and hold the bar raised, and ashoulder on the ejector adapted to release said bar from its raisedposition when the ejector reaches its forward position, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a type-setting machine, a toothed rotatable roller, an ejectorbeneath the roller and having teeth on its upper side, a bar adapted toraise said ejector into engagement with said roller, and a guide forsaid bar having a slot through which the bar slides, there being a notchin the rear side of the bar adapted to engage said guide, and meanswhereby the ejector at the end of its forward movement engages the barand releases it from the guide, substantially as described.

5. In a type-setting machine, a toothed rotatable roller, an ejectorbeneath the roller and having teeth on its upper side, a bar adapted toraise said ejectorinto engagement with said roller and hold it inengagement throughout the forward stroke of the ejector, a guide forsaid bar having a slot through which the bar slides, there being a notchin the rear side of the bar adapted to hook over said guide, a shoulderon the ejector adapted to engage said bar and move it from its hookedposition when the ejector reaches its forward position, the slot inwhich said bar is guided allowing play backward or forward, and a springtending to force said bar rearward, substantially as described.

6. In a type-setting machine, the combination of two toothed rollers, anejector between them having teeth on its upper and under edges, araising-bar beneath the ejector, a finger-key connected therewith andadapted to elevate the bar and thereby raise the ejector into engagementwith the upper roller, a shoulder on the rear side of the raising bar, aspring tending to move said bar rearward, and a member over which saidshoulder may thereby hook, said ejector having on its under side a notchnormally standing over the upper end of the raising-bar and over thelower roller, the rear end of said notch making a shoulder adapted toshove the raising-bar from its hooked position, when the ejector reachesits forward position, substantially as described.

7. In a type-settingmachine,a series of keylevers, a series of ejectors,and driving means for the ejectors, combined with a series ofraising-bars resting at their lower ends on the key-levers and havingtheir upper ends standing below the ejectors and adapted to raise theminto engagement with the driving means, said bars having shoulders ontheir rear sides, and means over which said shoulders hook and remainhooked throughout the forward movement of the ejector, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a type-setting machine, the combination of a series of key-levers,a series of ejectors, driving means for the ejectors, a series ofraising-bars resting at their lower ends on the key-levers and havingtheir upper ends standing below the ejectors and adapted to raise theminto engagement with the driving means, means for holding theraising-bars elevated after they have been raised until the ejectorreaches the forward end of its stroke, and means for thereuponautomatically releasing them, substantially as described.

9. In a type-setting machine, the combination of a series of key-levers,a series of ejectors, driving means for the ejectors, a series of flatraising-bars side by side resting at their lower ends on the key-leversand having their upper ends standing below the ej ectors and engage themand raise them into engagement with the driving means and hold them in,such engagement throughout the forward stroke of the ejectors, andslotted guides for said raising-bars, substantially as described.

10. In a type-setting machine, the combination of a series ofkey-levers, a series of long ejector-bars, driving means for theejectors, a series of raising-bars connecting at their lower ends withthe key-levers and having their upper ends standing below the ej ectorsand adapted to engage them and raise them into engagement with thedriving means, and hold them in such engagement throughout the forwardstroke of the ejectors, a guide for said raisingbars located adjacent tothe rear ends of the key-levers, and asecond guide for said raisingbarslocated adjacent to the ejectors, the lastmentioned guide being slottedwith play forward and back, there being engageable shoulders on saidraising-bars for holding them elevated, substantially as described.

11. In a type-setting machine, the combina tion of a series offinger-keys, a series of pivoted key-levers with which the finger-keysconnect, said key-levers being flat and set on edge, a series of fiatupright raising-bars side by side and resting at their lower ends on thekey-levers near their rear ends, said raisingbars being slidablevertically and the upper end thereof being movable also forward andback, driving mechanism, ejectors beneath the same, a type-casecontaining channels with which said ejectors cooperate, shoulders formedon the rear side of said raising-bars near their upper ends, springstending to cause engagement of said raisin -bars when they are raised,and shoulders on the ejectors adapted to release said raising-bars fromsuch engagement at the completion of the forward stroke of the ejector,substantially as described.

12. In a type-setting machine, the combination of driving mechanism, anejector, a bar adapted to raise said ejector into engagement with saidmechanism, a member over which said bar hooks and by which it may beheld in raised position throughout the forward movement of the ejector,and a releasing device in addition to the ejectors and adapted torelease such raising-bar from engagement, substantially as described.

13. In a type-setting machine, the combination of driving mechanism,ejector-s, bars adapted to raise said ejectors into engagement with saidmechanism, a member over which said bars may hook and be held in raisedposition, a releasing-bar extending crosswise behind the raising-bars,and means for moving such releasing-bar forward to unhook anyraising-bar which may be elevated, substantially as described.

14. In a type-setting machine, the combination of a rotatable roller,ejector-s, notched bars adapted to raise said ejectors into e11-gagement with said roller, a member over which the notches of said barsmay hook when the bars are in raised position, a pivoted releasing-barhaving rib normally opposite the notches in the raising-bars but belowsaid notches when the raising-bars are elevated, and means for swingingsuch releasing-bar for ward at its upper end to cause the rib to engageany elevated bar below the notch therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. FRANCIS B. CONVERSE, JR.

Witnesses:

EDWARD Y. MOORE, ALBERT. H. BATES.

